There is a widespread belief among teachers that students’ constant use of digital technology is hampering their attention spans and ability to persevere in the face of challenging tasks, according to two surveys of teachers being released on Thursday.

The researchers note that their findings represent the subjective views of teachers and should not be seen as definitive proof that widespread use of computers, phones and video games affects students’ capability to focus.

Even so, the researchers who performed the studies, as well as scholars who study technology’s impact on behavior and the brain, say the studies are significant because of the vantage points of teachers, who spend hours a day observing students.

Students: Are you distracted by technology? Are smartphones, texting, video games, iPads, Facebook, Web surfing and television getting in the way of your learning?

Has digital technology shortened your attention span?

Do you suffer from a “Wikipedia problem”? Are you likely to give up when you can’t find an answer quickly?

Do you find reality less interesting than what you’re doing and viewing on a screen?

How much time do you spend each day in front of a screen?

Do you think technology is getting in the way of your ability to write and communicate face to face?

Is technology distracting you from your homework?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Yes, because you’re so caught up in the outer world that you don’t care if you’re learning.

Has digital technology shortened your attention span?
• Do you suffer from a “Wikipedia problem”? Are you likely to give up when you can’t find an answer quickly? Yes
• Do you find reality less interesting than what you’re doing and viewing on a screen? It is, because they make everything so much more fun and cool.
• How much time do you spend each day in front of a screen? Most of the time I spend is in front of a screen
• Do you think technology is getting in the way of your ability to write and communicate face to face? It is in a way, because you’re more likely to text or message how you feel than face to face telling them how you feel.
• Is technology distracting you from your homework? Yes, because you’re more concerned about watching a show, texting, or listening to music.

so many kids these days are lacking social skills because they are stuck in the house playing on there phone,video games,computer ect. everyone needs to learn to be more social and go outside more,its not food that just makes us unhealthy. its the lack of movment that we do to.

Technology is a huge distraction from any work or school work. Laptops, T.V, cellphones and any apple products are the main products people get distracted by. In my personal experience I waste so much time on my technological devices and when I realize that I have work and I never finish what I intended to do.

I think technology is a distractment to almost everyone no matter what you are doing. I turn my phone off when studying and doing homework cause it gives me a huge distractment and i cant get focused. When i do have my phone on while im studying i constantly go on the internet or talk to my friends and then I end up forgetting what I studied because im more focused on my phone. I think having phones in school is fine but every year phones become more useful in different classes, the hallway, studyhalls etc. I dont believe this is helping students with their academics and classes so if teachers are so worried about it then they should only let phones be used outside of class.

I am more distracted by having a cell phone. I have an android so I usually go on the internet, play games or text while at school. I hear parents take away kids phones while at school and during homeowrk hours but honestly that would probably get me more distracted knowing I have text messages and unanswered phone calls to get to, so during that study time i will hurry and get past without caring if I got answers right or wrong. Technology has expanded for everyone, not just teenagers. It is a distraction for adults too! I spend a lot of my day on my cell phone, but we live in a era where technology is a base communication and entertainment for EVERYONE.

I think that technology does get in the way of our schoolwork because technology is fun and interesting to most and school is boring to some. It’s more of a priority of what you can focus on. I could pay attention to my TV screen all day because it’s fun and interactive while some people tune out teachers when they talk and talk and sometimes don’t give students the chance to interact with whatever they are teaching. I believe that if there was a way to make school twice as fun as it is now, a lot of students would be able to focus and get a lot more work done.

Technology is only a distraction to the amount you take it, The main problem people find with distraction and technology is pretty much showing restraint, As much as it might pain you, its very easy to delete a facebook, or block out a video game, and turning off a phone to get your work done. Technology also provides us with tools that help our learning, easy ways to sort our information and find essential facts. Its not the technology that needs to change, people just need to learn how to balance out their time more effeciently.

Technology has many uses when dealing with education. It is true that it can be distracting for some, but it offers so many resources at our finger tips. I think that most people will agree with me when I say that technology should be allowed in the schools, just with a limit/filter so no one would be tweeting instead of researching. All in all, the uses are worth the (potential) sacrifice of attention spans.

Technology does make an impact on our learning. However, this is mainly decided by the rules our parents set for us. My parents only let me watch tv and use the computer on weekends. This is good because during the week, I can focus on my homework and grades. My parents also gave me text block, so I can’t text my friends. It can be annoying to not text, but it also helps me stay focused, so I don’t have to worry about my friends replying. So yes, technology does impact our focus, if you don’t have rules set by your parents.

Yes, I think technology is distracting. I spend a lot of my time on the computer or on my phone. It really gets in the way of homework beacuse you lose track of time and its just more interesting then doing homework. Especially when you have homework to do on a computer, its hard not to go look at other websites. I think people use technology instead of doing work beacause its so much more interesting. its nothing like youre real life. thats why technology is so distracting.

Technology is not distracting me from my homework. I know this because I always go over what I have to do for homework after school. I think about if I have homework and if I have any tests to study for. I usually close the door when I do my homework so can’t be distracted from the TV or music.

With technology developing, it may get in the way of students learning. Not so much during school, but when they get home and go to do their homework, phones, television, and computers can easily distract students away from school work. Just because it is distracting doesn’t mean that it is affecting your writing and reading skills. Your ability to read and write has nothing to do with technology. Ultimiltly it is up to you if you let technology interfear with your school work, but it is not anyones fault but your own.

Technology has not decreased my attention span since I strive to concentrate on one task at a time. I try not to use the internet while I am studying or doing my homework. But I use it when it is required in my homework, or if I need help. I do not suffer the “Wikipedia Problem” because I like to confirm the information that source gives me to other sites to make sure it is correct. But, whenever I use Wikipedia or sites like it, I only use it to get a brief overview or or if I have a small question. Because of this, I spend around two to three hours on the internet. I think technology is getting my way of speaking face-to-face and writing. I normally do not care about my spelling or grammar when I chat with my friends online and frequently use short hand. This affects how I write in school. Furthermore, it is also easier to chat with someone than to talk to them directly since you do not have to face them. This can impact social life and ability to speak to others. From time to time, technology does distract me from completing my homework. Sometimes, I start searching up deviantART or wallpapers. Or if I am chatting with my friend about homework, we might go off tangent and start talking about something else completely unrelated. Finally, I am more interested in reality since it is how my surroundings and myself impact and shape my future. I also enjoy doing things like painting, drawing, dancing, and flying a kite than surfing on the internet . One cannot do all of that with technology. There is a limit on what one can do with technology, but there is no limit in reality. That is why reality is much more interesting to me.

I use technology all the time. I always have my phone with me and usually have my kindle. I don’t think that it distracts me from my schoolwork or anything else. I try to utilize technological resources to help me with things, but when necessary I can shut everything down and focus. Using technology actually helps people with work from other activites. I can read on my kindle. I’m artistically challenged so I can use computer programs. Using technology is fine when utilized correctly.

I personally think that technology has not affected my communication skills with people in real life. I enjoy being on the internet and other things in technology, but I continue to treasure the communication with people in real life and face to face.

Is technology distracting you from your homework?
Technology is a distracting but helpful aspect of our life. I can agree that technology is distracting while doing homework because of what we can do on the internet from just opening up your email a few moments later a sound comes saying that someone has chatted you, which now you are not paying attention and talking to someone who is also not doing what they are supposed to be doing. There is no end on what you can do on the internet from one website to another the cycle continues.
But students who utilize technology and use it for homework dot fall under this category because they are using technology in a way that is helpful to themselves.

Technology may get in the way of some peoples learning but I try my best to limit myself to gadgets. Technology hasn’t shortened my attention span even though it’s all around me. I tend to use my computer while I do my homework but I keep myself limited to a certain amount of time on the computer. Some kids may be facing the “Wikipedia Problem” but I do not because I use it for little reference or just to gain some general knowledge. I strive to do my best at all times and try to accomplish everything that is given to me. Reality is what is real so there is no point in believing what technology makes up. I spend around two hours of my day in front of a screen. This is includes my homework that requires Internet or typing as well as social communication with friends and family. Some kids take advantage of the time they are given to do their homework and they begin to chat online; they end up not doing their homework and stay up until very late. I get distracted some times and end up chatting with friends. When I do I have a tendency to use abbreviations and short forms. This could get in the way of writing at school and more formally in essay. It also gets in way when needed to speak face to face with someone but it helps when you don’t want to face someone when you are speaking to them. Technology does not distract me personally but affects many around the world.

Digital attention does not shorten my attention span. No I have never suffered from a Wikipedia problem. No I never give up so i have never given up when I cannot find an answer quickly. I find reality more or less the same as what I am doing or viewing on a screen. I spend ten minutes to a hour each day in front of a screen. No I do not think technology is interfering with my ability to write and communicate face to face. Sometimes, its just easier to talk to friends who live in the next town. No technology is not distracting me from my homework. I always do my written homework first. I always do my online homework last. I always start my homework the minute I get home

I definitely think technology has shortened my attention span. When I am at home doing homework I constantly check my phone, Facebook, etc. On top of that when I come across a tough problem in Math I can easily Google it. I most likely spend hours in front of electronics every day. I catch myself day dreaming at school, thinking of what I am going to do on the internet when I get home. Also, I believe it does get in the way of face to face talking. When you are texting or messaging I never feel that I have to respond as soon as I get the text. When you are talking face to face, you do have to respond.

No, digital technology has not shortened my attention span. However, like the article suggested at the end, the more exciting interactions I get from video games makes Reality “boring”. This might result in what could be perceived as a shorter attention span, as I want to move on to more fun things. I am still driven to complete Reality’s tasks nonetheless, so I do not suffer from the “Wikipedia problem”. the time I spend in front of a screen varies depending on the day and homework. On most school days, I have no computer-related homework, so I spend very little time on the screen. I have a 7-hour budget for my entire weekend, in regards to time playing computer games. I do not believe that technology is coming in the way of my verbal abilities and writing. However, I do not have a Facebook, Twitter, or account on any other social networking site. I think technology is very distracting from homework. Usually, homework is boring and/or stressful. Boring if it is quick and easy, stressful if it is not. Video Games, Facebook, etc all are a quick stress reliever. Also, with the amount of electronic (gaming) devices which the average student has near him/her, it would in most cases be very distracting.

I am very distracted by technology. I am on my phone and i Touch all the time. I do think that technology had shortened my attention span because the technology is so fast so i don’t have to wait a long time, so when I do have to wait, I get anxious. I do suffer from Wikipedia Problem, when I search for things, I go to the first website and if it gives me any information I’m looking for that’s the only website that I look at. I sometimes find reality less interesting that what is on a screen, computers and phones just seem to be more interesting. I usually spend about 4 or 5 hours a day in front of a screen, I use my iPod and phone on the bus, I watch TV when I get home, then I use my iPod throughout the rest of the night. I would say that technology is getting in the way of writing and communicating. It definitely makes spelling harder, and it feels weird to talk with someone for a while when I could just text them. I don’t think that technology is getting in the way of me doing homework, because I just want to get it done and over with.

Digital technology definitely does shorten my attention span because I get distracted with the web and texting. If I have work on the computer, I watch some types of shows while doing my work on the Internet. I waste more time texting my friends then doing my schoolwork. Then I realize it takes twice as much time to get my work done.

I don’t really suffer from a Wikipedia problem. When I use Wikipedia for schoolwork, their answers aren’t usually the right answers for me. I am likely to give up when I can’t find the right answer because I like to get the answer immediately. If I don’t get it immediately, tend to not want to keep searching for the answer. I don’t like to keep searching for the answer because it tales too much time.

I find my show “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” much more interesting then my schoolwork so I tend to watch the latest episode before I do my homework. I think watching my show is much more on the other hand, important then doing schoolwork. I also think playing field hockey and hanging out with friends is much more interesting then watching television sometimes.

How I feel depends on what time of day or what season we are in. In the winter I definitely have more time in front of a screen. I might spend 3 hrs. Per day surfing the web, watching TV or texting my friends. When I’m playing a sport, I don’t have the time. There’s only time for school, sports and homework.

I think kids these days many kids have a problem, communicating face to face because many of us like to text. Sometimes texting and social networking communication does not help us communicate better. We take shortcuts I think it makes our writing and communication worse.

Technology distracts me a lot from doing homework. Usually when I do homework, I have an iPhone right next to me. When I get a text or a notification on my cellphone I always stop and look on my phone. I stop doing my schoolwork essays and loose my focus easily.

Technology can be distracting.You just have to know how to work it into your schedule without being totally oblivious to the world. What distracts me the most is Facebook because it is fun to see pictures of your friends and to be able to communicate with family that lives far away. Even though I find Facebook distracting, I am pretty good about fitting it into my schedule. I get my school work done and keep my good grades up.I still interact with my friends face to face , and have family time.
No, I don’t think that technology has shortened my attention span. I don’t give up quickly and immediately turn to the Web for answers.I try to figure it out myself and if I absolutely can’t find the answer, yes I will look it up to give myself an idea of what I am looking for. No, reality usually interests me. I think that it is good to know what is happening in this world so you can be involved. I will admit though, that sometimes the news and other things like that is boring, but that doesn’t mean I sit in front of a screen all day and do nothing.

I feel that I do get easily distracted by technology when I need to do work. I am a major procrastinator so my computer and phone really distract and can take me away from my work for hours.

I think digital technology has shortened my attention span because I often find myself feeling bored when I’m doing work and feeling as if there is something better I could do, like sneak away onto my phone.

According to the article, a “Wikepedia Problem” is that “…students have grown so accustomed to getting quick answers with a few keystrokes that they are more likely to give up when an easy answer eludes them.” I believe that i do have this issue, because I find myself quickly googling the question word for word and then going to the first result and skimming the page for something that may look like an answer. If I don’t find anything, i something look through the next few results, only less thoroughly. I usually don’t go through other results though, and I loose focus.

I don’t particularly find the media more interesting than reality. It usually depends on the situation. I don’t think I have reached the level that I would choose technology over reality, and I don’t think I will ever reach that stage. Sure, when my phone is confiscated, I feel upset, but I am able to do other things to keep my entertained without needing my phone.

I don’t think technology is getting in the way of my ability to write or communicate. In fact, I think it is the opposite. Technology is influencing me in my day-to-day life because it gives me ideas on what to write or what to talk about at the lunch table. Sure, I use texting abbreviations, but that hasn’t affected my spelling at all. It might also be the fact that I don’t participate in any social networking sites, and I do prefer to read over anything else, but for the most part, I think technology is a positive influence over people.

The amount of time I spend on the screen depends on the amount of work I have to do, and how bored I am. On an average, i spend 3-4 hours on my computer and phone a day, but this number varies. If I don’t have much work, I might spend more time on the internet. If it’s cold outside, ands i am not able to entertain myself outside, I might also use my computer more. In our household, we don’t watch TV much at all, so I don’t really spend my time watching TV.

Technology does distract me from my homework. For example, over the week when schools were closed because of Hurricane Sandy, I choose not to complete my homework, and put it off to the Sunday before school re-opened. I spent most of my time on the internet, and texting, as well as watching TV. Technology is harmful in this way because it draws people away from doing regular work because they would rather be using technology. It makes other work, like homework, look boring.